49ERS (9-5) vs. CARDINALS (5-9)

Kevin Lynch

Published 4:00 am, Saturday, December 21, 2002

-- WHEN: Today, 2 p.m.

-- WHERE: Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe

-- TV: 2 40

-- RADIO: KGO (810 AM)

-- STORY LINE: The 49ers went from the league's most meaningful game (Sunday's 20-14 loss to Green Bay) to the most meaningless game in one week. With the Cardinals out of the playoffs and the 49ers locked in as the No. 4 playoff seed, this game will be forgotten as soon as it is over. That doesn't mean it won't be entertaining. Stuck in the same situation last week, the Cardinals played gamely and nearly overthrew the Rams in St. Louis, losing 30- 28 on a last-second field goal. Even though the Cards have lost six of their past seven (beginning with a 38-28 loss at Candlestick on Oct. 27), teams have been impressed with Arizona's intensity level. The last time these two teams met in Tempe, it was the last game of Steve Young's career. He left with a concussion after getting flattened by cornerback Aeneas Williams. This could also be the last home game for Arizona quarterback Jake Plummer, who is in the last year of his contract.

-- WHEN 49ERS HAVE THE BALL: Just how good are the 49ers without wide receiver Terrell Owens? That question could be answered in this game. Owens is expected to sit out with a groin pull. It will allow quarterback Jeff Garcia to strike up a chemistry with his other receivers, something he'll undoubtedly need in the playoffs. Also without Owens, the Cardinals could blitz like madmen without fear Owens will make the big play against man coverage. The blitzing will test Garcia's composure and the receivers' skills against man coverage. The one person who will be most fired up for this game is running back Garrison Hearst, who was once released by the Cardinals and would love to show them up in their own house.

-- WHEN THE CARDINALS HAVE THE BALL: With injuries decimating this offense, the lone threat is former free agent Marcel Shipp, who rang up three touchdowns and 175 yards of total offense against St. Louis on Sunday night. The team has sustained several injuries on the offensive line and is without running back Thomas Jones and wide receiver David Boston. Expect the Cardinals to throw often, something they did with fairly good success while scoring 21 points in the second half of the first meeting. Safety Ronnie Heard is expected to play for the 49ers in a limited role, which is bad news for Plummer, who threw three interceptions to Heard last time.